How to Wear Your Suit to Happy Hour—and Still Look Cool

Finishing touches make all the difference—just ask New York designer Todd Snyder, who featured the G-Shock MT-G (pictured above) on suited models at his Fall/Winter '14 New York Fashion Week presentation. The nice thing about a sporty watch is that you can wear it camping on a long weekend or in a team meeting at work without looking out of place. When we asked Olympian and Winter X Games snowboarder Louie Vito at the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships about his red-carpet style, he mentioned the Casio brand's MT-G, too. "You can wear a cool-looking watch and not have to worry about breaking it," he said. From Kenneth Cole backpacks to Jil Sander mandals, sporty accessories are the new must-haves, and they appeal to businessmen and athletes alike. But not every watch and sneaker is created equally. So remember these tips the next time you're laying out your look.

Make Sure It's StrongWhenever you're trying a new trend, do it with purpose. In other words, don't choose a grey watch that will be hidden by your grey suit. A black one will stand out more. Action pieces—a watch built for the mountain or sneakers formed for the court—make a sleek suit feel a little rugged, so don't over compensate with the largest dial you can find. Bigger isn't always better.

Stick to NeutralsPerformance watches come in all shapes and colors, but neon will never look classic like a neutral color. (Remember, black and white will never go out of style.) Expand your collection to include brown, dark blue and even grey, too. You're already bringing attention to your wrist by choosing a sporty style. Don't complicate your look by going with one in an obnoxious color.

Stay Within The LinesWhen pairing sneakers with a suit, your first thought should never be those high-top basketball shoes. Sure, they look cool—on the court. But you won't score style points at the bar. Stick to clean low-tops like Converse Jack Purcells, Adidas Stan Smiths, or Pony Vintage Slamdunks (pictured above). They won't create a break in your suit or leave you wondering whether you should tuck your pant leg behind the tongue or stretch it over. And when in doubt, choose a neutral color.

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